Cupping device



A ril 15 i924; 1,490,137

T. H. SPRINGER CUPPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1921 mum/T02 Z775 rzkfder 7 A TTOR/VE Y8 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

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PATENT oFFlc CUIPPING nnvrcn.

Application filed January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. SPRINGER,

a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Waterloo, in the county of Black-, hawk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cupping Devices, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in cupping devices, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

Anobjectof my invention is to provide acupping device adapted for use in the treatment of both the-male genitalia and the rectal area of the body, whereby weak or diseased organs may be restored to their normal vigor and the general health of the body is thus promoted. A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that has means for subjecting the parts to be treated to simultaneous electric and vacuum treatments or to either of these treatments independently of the other one.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is capable of being conveniently manipulated by the patient to administer therequired treatment to himself without the assistance of any attendants, such as nurses, being required.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is provided with an electrode and is also designed to hold a liquid movable into contact with the electrode, wherefore an electric current will be passed through the liquid and through the aifiicted parts of the body contacting therewith to another electrode held against the body and connected with the first named electrode by means of a battery and electrical conducting means until the body is moved out of contact with the liquid or the contact of the liquid with the electrode is broken.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that has substantially roundedinterior and exterior surfaces, wherefore the device may be thoroughly and easily cleaned and sterilized.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is relatively simple in construction and opa, 1921. Serial No. 434,543.

eration, and thoroughly effective for the purpose intended.- 7

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the. invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Y My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this ap plication, in which- I Figure 1 is a section through the device, shpiwing the use and application thereof, an a Figure 2 is a plan view of the device.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a vessel or receptacle consistingof a panshaped body portion; 1 having an integral cover. portion 2.. The receptacle may be madev of any suitable material, preferably aluminum or. other light metal.

Inthe form of thedevice now preferred by me, the walls ofthe receptacle converge toward the closed forward end thereof, as clearly shown in the drawings, and the body portion 1 has an integral portion 3 extending rearwardly beyond the cover portion 2, thereby, providing an opening 4 in the upper end of the receptacle at the rear thereof. The walls of the cover portion-2 and of the extension?) are so fashioned that the edges thereof defining the opening 4: are curved to conform, with the outline of a body 5 (see Figure 1)" adjacent the outer genitals and the rectum. These edges are provided with a continuous bead 6, where fore the receptacle may be conveniently held with substantially air-tight contact against the body without discomfort to the patient.

The dimensions of the receptacle and the form thereof as described and illustrated are suchthat when the same is held in operative position relative to the body, the rectal area and the outer genital organs are disposed within the receptacle and together with the entire sexual tract are enclosed by the walls of the opening 4.

The body portion 1 of the receptacle is provided with an electrode or terminal 7 secured to the inner wall of its forward end adjacent the upper edge thereof by means of a binding post 8 extending through the wall and having a nut 9 thereon. Suitable insulating members 10 insulate the terminal and the binding 0st from the body portion 1 of th receptac e.

A tube 11 connecting with the cover portion 2 of the receptacle may be attached to 5 tion intake tube 12. I

. rectum.

From the foregoing description of the various Jarts of the device, the operation thereot may be readily understood. The body portion of the receptacle is filled to about the level indicated with some liquid, such as warm Water or a medicated preparation, and the device is then moved into substantially air-tight contact with the portions of the body adjacent the genitalia and the The air may now be exhausted from the space in the receptacle above the liquid to any desired degree. The binding postSis adapted for connection with electrical conducting means 13 leading to a battery (not shown) or the l1ke,and a second elec trode (not shown) connected with the same battery may be held in contact with the body of the patient at any selected spot and a current will then pass through the liquid and the afflicted parts from the electrode '7 to the other electrode so long as the body is in contact with the receptacle and particularly with the liquid and the liquid is at the same time in contactwith the electrode 7.

The afflicted parts will be stimulated by the current passing therethrough and the stimulation will be 'increased'by the application of the vacuum treatment simultaneously with the electric treatment since the blood is thereby caused to flow to th atfiicted parts and the restoration of the diseased or weakened parts to their normal vigor and health hastened in a natural manner. Obviously, either the vacuum treatment or the electric treatment may be administered independently of the other.

When the electric treatment has been continued for a predetermined period or -ior a desired length of time, the circuit can be instantly broken by tilting the forward end of the receptacle upwardly until the liquid and the electrode 7 no longer contact, whereupon the current will cease to flow through the liquid to the alilicted parts.

' The device is designed primarily for use in treating the weakened or diseased members of the genito-urinary system as well as the rectal area and it is therefore constructed to accommodate the outer genitals without bodily discomfort and without injury to any of thes parts should the same be dis tended or in an alllicted condition on ac count of the ravages of a disease of the genito-urinary system.

I claim:

A cupping device comprising a liquid holding receptacle, said receptacle being formed with an open upper end shaped to fit, with a substantially air-tight contact, the body, to enclose the outer genitals, the en tire sexual tract, and the rectal area encompassing the rectum, said opening being shaped with a uniform sloping curve, whereby said opening may .be moved relatively to said body without breaking the air-tight contact therewith, a tube connecting with said receptacle to communicate with the space above said liquid, when the receptacle is in a normal operative position, and an electrode disposed within said receptacle in a position to contact with said liquid, when said receptacle is ina normal operative position and to break contact with said liquid when said receptacle is tilted up wardly.

THOMAS H. SPRINGER. 

